Cryptic population structure in sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) of the Pacific Flyway
Data files
Jul 15, 2025 version files 29.22 KB
-
SACR_Dryad.Final.csv
26.38 KB
-
README.md
2.84 KB
Abstract
Population segregation catalyzes genetic differentiation and can lead to speciation. Population genetic structure is also critically important for population management, especially in species characterized by small, isolated populations. Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) populations of the Pacific Flyway are made up of breeding populations nesting west of the Rocky Mountains, and isolated by intermediate mountain ranges. Current management policy in British Columbia treats all Sandhill Cranes as a single population, whereas in the western United States subpopulations are subject to population specific management. Here, we analyze microsatellite markers, mitochondrial DNA sequences, and mitochondrial haplogroups, derived from 203 individual Sandhill Cranes to elucidate population genetic structure of cranes migrating along the Pacific Flyway to summer breeding habitat on the North and Central Coast of British Columbia and southeast Alaska. STRUCTURE, AMOVA, FST, DAPC, and phylogenetic analyses reveal that geographically separated crane populations along the west coast of North America show substantial genetic differentiation in the Pacific Flyway. These findings are consistent with behavioural and ecological evidence - divergent diets, flyways and breeding habitats. We conclude that the relatively small coastal Sandhill Crane populations deserve special management consideration to safeguard their genetic diversity and adaptations, and to mitigate deleterious impacts of current and future climate change scenarios.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.wwpzgmsw6
Dataset associated with manuscript: Cryptic population structure in Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) of the Pacific Flyway. Contains microsatellite markers, locations, and population assignments.
Description of the data and file structure
Data file name: SACR_Dryad.Final.csv
Samples (feathers and blood) were collected from Sandhill Cranes from Haida Gwaii BC, Coastal BC, Interior BC, and Alaska populations (west of the Rocky Mountains). Micro-satellite and mtDNA markers were obtained from samples. Please see detailed methods in Joy, R. et al. 2025. Cryptic population structure in Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) of the Pacific Flyway. Ecology and Evolution. Column descriptors are provided below.
- SampleID: unique sample identifier
- Organism: all samples are of Antigone canadensis (Sandhill Cranes)
- Population: description of population either, ALASKA=South West Alaska, COAST=Coastal British Columbia and South East Alaska, HAIDAGWAII=Haida Gwaii, BC, INTERIOR=Interior of British Columbia
- Collection Date: Sample collection date, if known in yyyy format. If unknown, recorded as NA
- Sample.collection.Latitude: the latitude where the sample was collected
- Sample.Collection.Longitude: the longitude where the sample was collected
- sample.type: type of material samples were derived from either: blood=blood samples, carcass=road kill includes feathers and blood, feathers=feathers, toe clips & feathers=toe clips & feathers from Sandhill Crane carcass
- Gram6.Allele1: value for this microsatellite allele
- Gram6.Allele2: value for this microsatellite allele
- Gram11.Allele1: value for this microsatellite allele
- Gram11.Allele2: value for this microsatellite allele
- Gram20.Allele1: value for this microsatellite allele
- Gram20.Allele2: value for this microsatellite allele
- Gram22.Allele1: value for this microsatellite allele
- Gram22.Allele2: value for this microsatellite allele
- Gram30.Allele1: value for this microsatellite allele
- Gram30.Allele2: value for this microsatellite allele
- Gram42.Allele1: value for this microsatellite allele
- Gram42.Allele2: value for this microsatellite allele
- GjM15.Allele1: value for this microsatellite allele
- GjM15.Allele2: value for this microsatellite allele
- GjM48b.Allele1: value for this microsatellite allele
- GjM48b.Allele2: value for this microsatellite allele
Antigone canadensis is currently (2025) classified by by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources as a species of “Least Concern”. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada also classifies Antigone canadensis as a species “Not at Risk”.